Dong Ha Communal House

Dong Ha Communal House is located in Dong Ha Village, Phu Cat Commune, Hanoi City, and is a space for religious and cultural activities closely tied to the local community. The communal house worships the tutelary deity Dang Long Uyen, with joint worship of female general Mai Trang along with Quan Van Truong, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei. For the people of Dong Ha, the communal house is a place to express reverence and gratitude to the deities worshipped and to preserve village customs and traditions handed down through generations. During the year, ceremonies at the communal house take place on the 8th day of the first lunar month, the 21st day of the fifth lunar month, and the 10th day of the eighth lunar month, respectively associated with the death anniversary, birthday, and victory commemoration day of the tutelary deity. The main festival is usually held every five years on the 10th day of the eighth lunar month, with rituals including cleansing, incense offering, offerings, and a procession of the tutelary deity. The procession includes sacred flags, eight treasures, dragon palanquins, and palanquins along with a male ritual team, a female fan dance team, and an incense-offering group, expressing reverence and the spirit of joint effort of the villagers. Besides the solemn ritual part, the festival includes cultural performances, tug-of-war, Chinese chess, and volleyball, creating a joyful atmosphere and community cohesion. Traditional rituals are directly guided by elders and knowledgeable people for younger generations during preparation and festival practice. Visiting Dong Ha Communal House, tourists have the opportunity to learn about tutelary deity worship, feel the beauty of rural culture, and experience the respect and preservation of traditions by the people of Phu Cat.